Hydraulic valve



NOV. 7 21, 1944. I BENNETT 2,363,111

' HYDRAULIC VALVE Filed Dec. 2, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 21, 1944 Racy D. Bennett, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Vinco Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application December 2, 1941, Serial K024321371 6 Claims (01. 121-465) This invention relates to hydraulic control valves and has particular adaptability in such cases as controlling the flow of liquid under pressure to a hydraulic cylinder adapted to reciprocate according to a manual control or through a continuous cycle. Hydraulic motors of the type herein contemplated are found, for instance as the traversing means for milling machines and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a fourway valve capable of controlling light or heavy pressures with the expenditure of minimum of a hammering in the pressure lines.

Another object is to provide a general type of valve which lends itself to easy changes to accommodate itself to difierent desired sequences thus simplifying production from the manufacturers standpoint and rendering it possible to use the valve for widely different services where interchangeable parts are provided.

Other objects and advantages will .become more 1 fully apparent as reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein my invention is illustrated, and in which Fig. 1 diagrammatically shows a typical hydraulic system having my improved control valve as a part thereof, i

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of that end of Fig. 2 adjacent thereto as illustrated,

a. 4 is a side elevation, with parts in section, of the right end of Fig. 2, and

Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar to Fig. 2 showing modified forms of the invention.

More particularly, I indicates a valve casin having a cylindrical bore 2 therethrough, the bore being closed at each end by the cylinder heads 3 and 4. A spool valve 5 is slidable in the bore 2.

This valve is composed of a plurality of lands or piston-like portions 6, I, 8 and 9 spaced from each other by the integral stems II), II and I2. Axially through the valve is a passageway [3 open intermediate its end to the space between the portions 1 and 8 and restricted to small or minute diameter towards its ends by the bored plugs 14 and I5.

, The bore 2 is enlarged at I5 at one end thereof forming a shoulder II at a point such that the shoulder is coplanar with the end of the portion 6 of the valve. Extending outwardly into the space [5 is a hollow plug or shaft I8 which is fixed into the 'bore l3 of the valve. A spring-seated washer i9 is slidable on the plug l8 and seats at its periphery on the shoulder ll. The washer i9 is provided with holes l9. to permit the free passa e of fluid from one side to the other of the washer. Another spring-seated washer 20 is secured to the outer end of the plug l8 and a spring 2| urges the washers apart and acts to urge the valve o to the centered position illustrated. The bore l3 finds an outlet through the plug l8 into the space [6 through an opening l8 in the protruding end of the plug I8.

The casing I has a plurality of small bores The one outlet passage 24 and the valve portion 8 overlies the outlet passage 23. If the valve 5 is moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 2 the pressure line 22 is placed in communication with the outlet 23 and if moved to the right it is placed in. communication with the outlet 24. Drain outlets 25 and 26 are provided between the valve portions 8 and 9, and between the valve portions 8 and 1 respectively.

The cylinder head 3 has an internal shoulder 21 against which the valve portion 9 abuts whenjf moved to its extreme position to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2. The shoulder is tapered to form a" chamber therearound and an outlet or drain line 28 leads from this chamber to a further chamber 29 also formed in the casing. This latter cham-- 'ber 29 is in the form of a cylinder having a cutoff valve 30 projecting thereinto. The valve 30 Leading from the chamber I6 is an outlet or drain line 31 which leads to a solenoid-controlled valve device which is a duplicate of that just described so the description will not be repeated.

In describing the operation reference will first be had to Fig. 1 in which a typical system, with which my control valve is adapted to function, is diagrammatically illustrated. In the system a motor 36 is adapted to drive a, pump 39 led from a tank or sump 46 thus furnishing a source of liquid pressure supply through a line 4|. The line 4| leads into the pressure passageway 22 of the control device forming the subject matter. of this invention. A hydraulic motor in the form of a cylinder 42 and a piston 43 is the device to be controlled so that a line 44 leads from one outlet 23 to one side of the piston 43 and another line 45 leads from the outlet 24 to the other side of the piston 43. The drain passage 25 connects into the drain passage 26 and a common line 46 leads back into the sump 40. Between the lines 4| and 46 is a pressure relief valve 41 which causes fluid being pumped through the line 4| to be bypassed back to the tank or sump 40 when a predetermined pressure is reached.

When it is desired that the piston 43 move to the right, as viewed in Fig. l, the switch 36 is closed thus energizing the coil 32 and causing the solenoid valve 36 to open. This bleeds the chamber between the shoulder 21 and the valve portion 3 thus permitting the valve to move to the left under the influence of the pressure fluid introduced through the inlet 22. The outlet 23 is thus uncovered and communication is established therethrough between the pressure lines 22 and 44. Simultaneously the outlet 24 is uncovered and communication is established to the drain line 26 so that the piston 43 can move to the right. If the switch 36 is then opened the spring 2| will urge the spool valve to return to its centered position which it will do as the chamber between the cylinder end 3 and the valve portion 9 fills with fluid.

If the switch 48 of the other circuit 49 is now closed the coil 50 will be energized causing the plunger or core 5| thereof to elevate the valve 52. Fluid will then flow from the chamber l6 through the passageway 31 and past the valve 52 thus permitting the spool valve 5 to move to the right. This will connect the pressure line 22 with the line 24 and admit fluid under pressure to the right side of the piston 43 and, at the same time, place the line 44 and port. 23 in communication with the outlet 25 which drains the fluid from the left side. of the piston 43, permitting the piston 43 to be driven to the left.

The portions 1 and 8 of the spool valve are bevelled at 53 to permit slight leakag therepast between the lines 23 and 25, and 24 and 26 so ,that the piston 43 may be manually shifted. It

The operation is as follows: when the system is I being supplied with fluid under pressure through'the line 22a the valve may be in the centered position illustrated, but thereafter it will always'come to rest at one end or the other of itsbore. Thus, suppose the parts to be in the position illustrated and suppose that the solenoid winding 32a is energized, the core lla will be elevated thus opening the valve 36a and venting the fluid from the space between the valve end 3a and the bore end 3a. The valve So will move to the left by reason of the pressure against the other end of the valve 6a thus connecting the port 23a with the pressure source 22a and simultaneously connecting the port 26a with the port 24a. As the solenoid valve 30a is then closed pressure will build up in the chamber between the head 3a and the valve end em to balance the pressure on the other end of the valve 6a, but all forces are balanced and the valve will remain in its position to the left until the other solenoid valve is elevated in order to reduce the pressure at the right hand end So of the valve whereupon the valve 5a 'will move to the right. This movement will connect the port 22a to the port 24a, and the port 2511 to the port 23a.

Fig. 6 shows a construction similar to that of Fig. 2 but with one solenoid and solenoid valve omitted. and with the spring-seated washer l3 omitted so that the spool valve is spring biased to the left, as illustrated. Similar parts carry the same numerals with the addition of the small letter b so that a detailed description of parts will not be repeated.

The operation is as follows:. suppose that the system is filled with fluid under pressure through the port 22b. The fluid pressure at each end of the spool valve will be balanced so that the pressure exerted by the spring 2 lb will maintain thevalve in the extreme left position when the outlet valve 52b is closed. The operation is otherwise the same as the operation of the valve illustrated in Fig. 2 and described above.

What I claim is:

l. A hydraulic control Valve comprising a casing having a bore therein, a pressure-fluid inlet passage extending through said casing and communicating with an intermediate portion of said bore, a pair of pressure-fluid outlet passages extending through said casing and communicating with said bore, one at each side of the pressurefluid inlet, longitudinally of the bore, a reciprocable valve in the bore including a stem and a pair of spaced lands ateach side of the fluid inlet, longitudinally of the bore, a passage extending longitudinally through the valve and communicating with said intermediate portion of the bore and the space between each end of the valve and the casing, sothat pressure fluid from the inlet may pass to the space between each end of the valve and the casing, a drain from the space between each of said pairs of lands, a passage from the space between each end of the valve and the casin to the space between the proximate pair of lands for the venting of fluids from the spaces between the ends of the valve and the casing,

and means for controlling the passag of fluidthrough said last-mentioned passages, the innermost of the pairs of lands closing the outlet passages to the passage of pressure fluid from the pressure-fluid inlet when the valve is in neutral position, and the valve being movable longitudinally of the bore to cause either outlet passage to be opened for the passage of pressure fluid from the pressure-fluid inlet, the other outlet passage, when the valve is so moved, being connected to the proximate drain.

2. A hydraulic control valve comprising a casing having a bore therein,- a pressure-fluid inlet passage extending through said casing and communicating with an intermediate portionof said bore. a pair of pressure-fluid outlet passages extending through said casing and communicating with said bore, one at each side of the pressurefluid inlet, longitudinally of the bore, a reciprocable valve in the bore including a stem and a pair of spaced lands at each side of the fluid inlet, longitudinally oi. the bore, a passage extending longitudinally through the valve and communicating with said intermediate portion of the bore and the space between each end of the valve and the casing, so that pressure fluid from the inlet may pass to the space between each end of the valve and the casing, a drain from the space between each of said pairs of lands, a passage from the space between each end 01' the valve and the casing to the space between the proximate pair of lands for the venting of fluids irom' the spaces between the ends of the valve and the casing, and electromagnetic means for controlling the passage of fluid through said last-mentioned passages, the innermost oi the pairs of lands closing the outlet passages to the passage of pressure fluid from the pressure-fluid inlet when the valve is in' neutral position, and the valve being movable longitudinally of the bore to cause either outlet passage to be opened for the passage of pressure fluid from the pressurefluid inlet, the other outlet passage, when the valve is so moved, being connected to the proximate drain.

3. A hydraulic control .valve comprising a casing having a bore therein, a pressure-fluid inlet passage extending through said casing and communicating with an intermediate portion of said bore, a pair of pressure-fluid outlet passages extending through'said casing and communicating with said bore, one at each side of the pressurefluid inlet, longitudinally of thebore, a reciprocable valve in the bore including a stem and a pair of spaced lands at each side of the fluid inlet, longitudinally of the bore, a passage extending longitudinally through the valve and communicating with said intermediate portion of the bore and the space between each end of the valve and the casing, so that pressure fluid from the inlet may pass to the space between each end of the valve and the casin a drain from the space between each of said pairs of lands, a passage from the space between each end of thevalve and the casing to the space between the proximate pair of lands for the venting of fluids from the spaces between the ends of the valve and the casing, and manual means for controlling the passage of fluid through said last-mentioned passage irrespective of theposition of the valve, the innermost of the pairs of lands closing the outlet passages to the passage of pressure fluid from the pressure-fluid inlet when the valve is in neutral position, and the valve being movable longi-v tudinally of the bor to cause either outlet passage to be opened for-the passage of pressure fluid from the pressure-fluid inlet, the other outlet passage, when the valve is so moved, being connected to the proximate drain.

4. A hydraulic control valve comprising a casing having a bore therein, a pressure-fluid inlet passage extending through said casing and communicating with an intermediate portion of said bore, a pair of pressure-fluid outlet passages extending through said casing and communicating with said bore, one at each side of the pressurefluid inlet, longitudinally of the bore, a reciprocable valve in the bore including a stem and a pair of spaced lands at each side of th fluid inlet, longitudinally of the bore, a passage extending longitudinally through the valve and communieating with said intermediate portion oi the bore and the space between each end of the valve and the casing, so that pressure fluid from the inlet may pass to the space between each end or the valve and the casing, a drainfrom the space between each of said pairs oi lands, a passage from the space between each end of the valve [and the casing to the space between the proximate pair of lands for the venting of fluids from the spaces between the ends of the valve and the casing, means for controlling the passage of fluid through said last-mentioned passages, and means i for normally maintaining the valve in neutral position with the innermost oi the pairs oat lands sure fluid from the pressure fluid inlet, the valve being movable longitudinally of the bore to cause either outlet passage to be opened for the passage or pressure fluid from the pressure-fluid inlet, the other outlet passage, when the valve is so moved, being connected to the proximate drain.

5. A hydraulic control valve comprising a casing having a bore therein, a pressure-fluid inlet passage extending through said casing and communicating with an intermediate portion of said bore, a pair of pressure-fluid outlet passages extending through said casing and communicating with said bore, one at each side of the pressurefluid'inlet, longitudinally of the bore, a reciprocable valve in the bore including a stem and a pair of spaced lands at each side of the fluid inlet, longitudinally of the bore, a passage extending longitudinally through the valve and communicating with said intermediate portion of the bore and the space between each end of the valve and the casing, 50 that pressure fluid from the inlet may pass to the space between each end! of the valve and tween each said pairs oi. lands, a passage from 40 the space between on end of the valve and the casing to the space between the proximate pair of lands for the venting of fluid from the space.

fluid inlet, the other outlet passage, when the valve is so moved, being connected to the proximate drain. a

6. A hydraulic control valve comprising a casing having a bore therein, a pressure-fluid inlet passage extending through said casing and communicating with an intermediate portion of said .bore, a pair oi pressure-fluid outlet passages extending through said casingand communicating with said bore, one at each side of the pressureiluid inlet, longitudinally of the bore, a reciprocable valve in the bore including a stem and a pair of spaced lands at each side of the fluid inlet, longitudinally of the bore, a passage extending the casing, so that pressure fluid from the inlet may passto-the space between each end of the valve and the casing, a drain from the space between each of said pairs of lands, a passage from the space between each end or the'valve and the casing for the venting oi fluid from said 15 space, and means for independently and manclosing the outlet passages to the passage of prese casing, a drain from the space beto .cause either outlet passage to be opened for the passage or pressure fluid fromthe pressureually controlling the passage of fluid through said last-mentioned passages irrespective of the position of the valve, the innermost o! the'pairs of lands closing the outlet passages to the passage of pressure fluid from thepressure-fluid inlet when the valve is in neutral position, and the valve being movable longitudinally oi the bore to cause either outlet pasuage to be opened for the passage of pressure iiuidirom the pressureiiuid inlet, the other outlet passage, hen the valve is so moved, being connected to the proxia mate draim RACY D. 3mm. 

